Chopping or mincing knife.



NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. LOHR, OF LAMANDA, CALIFORNIA.

CHOPPING OR MINCING KNIFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,021, dated August 15, 1899.

Application filed Tune 4, 1898. $erial No. 682,600. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN WV. LOHR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lamanda, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Chopping or Mincing Knives, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to those chopping or mincing knives having two or more blades.

It is obvious that the operation of chopping or mincing can be performed in half the time with a chopping knife having two blades than it can with a chopping-knife having only one blade. One having three blades is still more eifective, although requiring more strength to operate it. W'ith such device, however, it is desirable that the same be so constructed that the blades may be quickly and readily separated for cleansing and as quickly and as readily brought again into operative position and there rigidly held for use.

An object of my invention is to provide a chopping or mincing knife of the above description in which the blades can be quickly and readily separated and again adjusted and fastened for use without any loosening or adj ustin g of the joint by which the members are united.

My invention comprises a chopping or mincing knife having a plurality of crossing or intersecting members pivotally secured together intermediate their ends and fitted together above the pivot to form a unitary shank and provided at the upper end of the shank with a transverse handle-bar and each member being provided below the pivot with a knife and each outer member being bent outward between the pivot and the blade, whereby said knives are adapted to be quickly separated and readjusted for use Without loosening the joint, any use of slots and burs and thumb-nuts for securing the parts together being dispensed with.

My invention also comprises the various features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a knife embodying my invention and provided with two blades. Fig. 2 is an end View of the same, showing the blades separated from each other. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a knife provided with three blades; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the same, showing the blades separated from each other. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of a knife provided with three blades; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the same, showing the blades separated from each other. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional View illustrating the construction of the shank shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

In the drawings, AA represent two complementary members which are pivoted together intermediate their ends by means of a pivot a and are each provided at the lower ends with a blade B B, respectively. The ends of the complementary members below the pivot are bowed outward, as shown, to bring the knives a suitable distance apart; but the upper portions of the complementary members are preferably arranged to fit together, as shown, to form a single shank. Each complementary member may be provided at its top with a portion 0 0, respectively, each forming preferably one-half of a handle 0, and when the two portions of the handle are brought together they form a convenient means for operating the knife, and the hand in grasping the handle will naturally hold the two parts together, thus holding the knives in proper relative position. 'The knives or blades are parallel with eachother and each one is parallel or in substantially the same plane with the handle or section thereof, so that greater or less pressure may be exerted upon either end of the blades by means of the handle in the usual manner, and the grip of the operator on the handle will prevent the separation of the blades.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown an intermediate or central member A pivoted between the two complementary members A A and provided at its top with a lug a, which seats into a suitable seat to" provided in the handle. The three members are thus ar ranged to be quickly separated from each other by swinging the two portions of the handle apart, as shown in Fig. 3, or brought into proper relative position by swinging the two portions of the handle in together.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown the central stem A" provided with a handle 0 and the two members A A pivoted to the central stem. A ring or collar D is arranged to slide upon the central stem and to encircle the upper ends of the two side members when such members are swung into their closed position and to firmly retain them in proper position for chopping.

In practical operation the complementary members of the shank and their halves of the handle, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, are cast integral andthe blades are secured in their seats by rivets in the usual manner, after which the pivot a is inserted and is loosely headed, so that the parts may readily swing upon the pivot. The device is then ready for operation and may be used in the ordinary manner.

When it is desired to cleanse the blades, the two halves of the handle are spread apart, thus causing the blades to swing away from each other, and in the form shown in Figs. 3 and i the middle blade may be swung into proper position between the two side blades, when all the blades may be readily washed without any danger whatever of cutting the fingers. In Figs. 4 and 6 the blades are shown partially open, but they may be separated much farther, if desired.

In the device shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 the handle 0 is castseparate from the members of the stem and is provided with a central opening 0, through which the shank of the central member A" is passed after the ring D is slipped in place and is firmly secured by riveting. Then the two complementary members A A are pivoted to the central stem by the rivet or pivot a, and the device is ready for operation. By slipping the ring D down to encircle the upper ends of the complementary members the device is held in its operative position, and by slipping it upward, as

shown in Fig. 6, the blades may be swung apart for the purpose of cleansing.

It is obvious that without departing from the spirit of my invention two shanks may be provided, one at each end of the handle, and my claims are not limited to the particular construction shown.

Now, having described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. In a chopping-knife, the combination with a plurality of intersecting members pivotally secured together intermediate their ends to form a shank, the lower end of each outer member being bowed outward; of a blade secured to the lower end of each member, said blades being parallel with each other and at a distance apart; and a handle at the opposite end of said members, said handle being in a line with the pivot and transversely of the shank and substantially parallel with the blades.

2. In a chopping-knife, the combination of a plurality of members pivotally secured together intermediate their ends and fitted together above the pivot to form a unitary shank, the portion of each outer member below the pivot being bent outward; of blades respectively secured one to the lower end of each member, the blades being parallel with each other and a distance apart; and a handle for said members arranged transversely of the upper end of said shank.

3. In a chopping-knife, the combination set forth of two complementary members pivoted together intermediate their ends and each provided at its lower end with a blade; an intermediate member arranged between the two members and provided at its top with a tongue or lug; one-half a handle secured to the top of each of the outside members; and a seat arranged to seat the lug and to hold the centralmember in line with the two outside members when the blades are in their operative position.

l. A chopping-knife consisting of a shank comprising three complementary members pivoted together intermediate their ends and. fitted together above the pivot to form a unitary shank; blades respectively secured one to the lower end of each member; a handle secured to one or more of the members at the upper end thereof'and extending transverse the shank; and means for detachably securing the members together in the unitary shank.

JOHN W. LOHR.

Witnesses:

CHAS. GARDNER, JOHN S. 00X. 

